LI G 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY, 



LI G 



rol/a: none. Stamina: filamenla numerous, (twenty four,) 

 filiform, longer than the calix, inserted into the receptacle: 

 antherae roundish. Pistil: none. Females on different indi- 

 viduals; calix as in the mate, but larger. Corolla: none. 

 Pistil: germen oblong; style none; stigma elevated, quad- 

 rangular-howled, furrowed, with convoluted margins, per- 

 manent. Pericarp: berry oblong, seated on a very small 

 receptacle, umbilicated, one ceiled. Seeds: three, five, to 

 six, as above. Observe. This genus is allied to Prockia, 

 with which they agree in calix, stamina, and habit, but dift'er 

 in the stigma.' ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Calix: four- 

 leaved. Corolla: none. Female and Hermaphrodite. Stig- 

 ma: sessile; berry umbilicated, one-celled, with from three 

 to six seeds. The species are, 



1. Lightfootia Serrata. Leaves oblong-ovate, serrate, acu- 

 minate; peduncles lateral, aggregate, one-flowered. Native 

 of Montserrat. 



2. Lighffootia Theasformis. Leaves lanceolate-elliptic, 

 serrate, bluntish; peduncles axillary, subsolitary, one-flow- 

 ered; branches and all the other parts smooth. It has the 

 habit of the Tea-shrub. Native of the Isle of Bourbon. 



3. Lightfootia Integrifolia. Leaves subcoriaceous, oblong 

 and obovate, emargiuatc, almost quite enlire; peduncles 

 lateral, subaggregate, one-flowered. This is also a shrub, 

 with round smooth branches, covered with an ash-coloured 

 bark. Flowers larger than in the oilier sorts. Native place 

 unknown. 



Lignum Campechianum. See Hccmatoxylum. 



Lignum Colubrinum. See Strychnos. 



Lignum Corneum. See Garcinia. 



Lignum Lccvf. Sec Glabraria. 



Lignum Moluccense. See Croton. 



Lignum Vitee. See Gvaiacvm. 



Ligusticum ; a genus of the class Pentandria, order Diay- 

 nia. GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: umbel universal mani- 

 fold ; partial manifold ; involucre universal membranaceous, 

 seven-leaved, unequal; partial scarcely four-leaved, membra- 

 naceous; perianth proper, five-toothed, obscure. Corolla: 

 universal uniform; florets all fertile; proper of five petals, 

 which are equal, involute, flat, entire, inwardly keeled. Sta- 

 mina: filamenta five, capillary, shorter than ihe corolla; 

 antherae simple. Pistil: germen inferior; styles two, approx- 

 imated ; stigmas simple. Pericarp: none; fruit oblong, 

 cornered, five-furrowed, bipartite on each side. Serds: two, 

 oblong, smooth, marked on one side with five elevated stria;, 

 flat on the other side. Observe. Male flowers have also been 

 remarked. ESSKNTIAI. CHARACTER. Fruit: oblong, five- 

 grooved on both sides. Corolla: equal, with involute entire 



petals The seeds of the plants of this genus should be sown 



in autumn, soon after they are ripe, for when they are kept 

 out of the ground till spring, they seldom grow the first year. 

 When the plants are fit to remove, transplant them into a 

 moist rich border at three feet distance. They all love a 

 moist soil and shady situation. The species are, 



1. Ligusticum Leviaticum ; Common Lovage. Leaves 

 manifold ; leaflets gashed at top ; root strong, fleshy, peren- 

 nial, striking deep into the ground; stems six or seven feet 

 high, large, and channelled, divided into several branches, 

 each terminated by a large umbel of yellow flowers. The 

 odour of this plant is very strong, and peculiarly ungrateful; 

 its tasle is warm and aromatic. It abounds with a yellowish 

 gummy resinous juice, very much resembling Opoponax. Its 

 qualities are supposed to be similar to those of Angelica and 

 Mastervvort, in expelling flatulencies, exciting perspiration, 

 and opening obstructions ; it is therefore chiefly used in 

 terine obstructions. A tea-cup full of the juice with Rhenish 

 09. 



wine, or a decoction of the seeds with wine or mugwort-waler, 

 was said by Forestus to be a secret remedy of extraordinary 

 efficacy in slow or laborious parturition. The leaves, eaten 

 as salad, are accounted an emmenagogue. The root and 

 seeds are of a cordial sudorific nature, and many authors of 

 credit recommend the use of them in pestilential disorders. 

 An infusion of the root increases the urinary discharge, 

 removes obstructions of the viscera, brings away gravel, and 

 helps thr jaundice: the seeds produce the like effects, and 

 are potent dispeisers of wind in the stomach. The roots of 

 Common Lovage will abide nian^ years, and where the seeds 

 are permitted to scatter, the plants will come up without 

 care. This plant flowers in June and July, and the seeds 

 ripen in autumn. Native of the Alps of Italy, the south of 

 Franct , and Siiesia. It is planted in our gardens for its medi- 

 cal qualities. 



2. Ligusticum Scoticum ; Scotch Loeage: Leaves biter- 

 nate ; stalk about a foot high, and sustains a small umbel of 

 yellow flowers, shaped like the preceding: most authors say 

 the root is perennial. It is much valued in the Isle of Sky. 

 The root is reckoned a good carminative; and an infusion of 

 the lea\es in whey, a good purge for calves. It is aUo used 

 for food, either as salad or boiled like greens. Native of 

 North America, Sweden, Denmark, and Scotland, where it 

 is found upon the rocks near the coast. 



3. Ligusticum Peloponnense ; Hemlock-leaved Lovage. 

 Leaves manifold-pinnate ; leaflets piunately gashed ; root 

 thick, fleshy, like that of the Parsnep, striking deep into the 

 ground. When bruised, the leaves emit a fetid odour. Steins 

 three or four feet high, large, and hollow, sustaining large 

 umbels of yellowish flowers. Native of Switzerland, Austria, 

 Dauphiny, Silesia, Italy, Peloponnesus, and Siberia. 



4. Ligusticum Austriacum ; Austrian Lovage. Leaves 

 bipiinmte ; leaflets confluent, gashed, quite entire; root half 

 a foot long or more, the thickness of the human thumb, 

 often branched, yellowish brown on the outside, pale within, 

 and spongy ; stem upright, from two to three feet high, 

 grooved, hollow, without any partitions at the joints; flowers 

 strong-smelling, large, all fertile ; petals white. The whole 

 plant is smooth. It flowers from June to August. Native 

 of Austria, Silesia, and Italy. 



5. Ligusticum Cornubiense; Cornish Lovage. Root-leaves 

 decompound, gashed; stem-leaves ternate, lanceolate, entire; 

 root perennial, spindle-shaped ; stem from two to three feet 

 in height, erect, branched, many-flowered, round, striated, 

 roughiah, purple at the base, annual ; flowers white, equal, 

 all hermaphrodite. The root contains a yellow resinous 

 juice. This plant, as its name imports, is peculiar to Corn- 

 wall, where it grows in thickets, among bushes, and in hedges. 

 It eluded the researches of modern botanists, till Mr. Pen- 

 iiington found it in 1788 in great plenty near Bod m in, where 

 it was also gathered in the following year, though five years 

 afterwards not a single plant could be discovered in that 

 field ; but Dr. Withering found it in another place, farther 

 from Bodmin, among furze. Cattle are so fond of it that 

 they eat it down wherever they can get at it. 



(>. Ligusticum Peregrinum ; Par airy- leaved Lovage. Invo- 

 lucre of the primary umbel scarcely any, of the lateral ones 

 membranaceous at the base; rays somewhat branched ; root 

 biennial ; stem two feet high, rigid, angular, even ; petals 

 yellowish, inflex-emarginate. It resembles Parsley even in 

 smell and taste, but all the parls are thicker and more rigid. 

 It flowers in June and July. Native of Portugal.' 



7. Ligusticum Balearicuin. Leaves pinnate ; lowest leaflets 

 augmented with a leaflet ; root biennial ; stem round, some- 

 what striated, small in comparison with the umbel, a foot 



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